Winter Steelheading in California
Between the Russian River to the south and the Smith River tucked away near the Oregon border, Northern California's Lost Coast has been the subject of many stories and one fine movie recounting the so called 'golden years' of steelhead angling here.
The collapse during the 1960's in rivers such as the Eel, overlooks the fact that steelhead populations seem fairly stable today, despite statewide drought. Clearly, the most popular rivers are the Trinity and the Klamath, yet there are miles and miles of water on each that are seldom fished. Even the fabled Smith has had the number of anglers diminish over the years. While working over there last winter on the Eternally Wild film project, only a couple of weekends found the Hiuchi Cafe hopping in early morning darkness. And most fish just from the Forks down, leaving the South and Middle Forks to a few walk and waders. The few deeply committed winter steelheaders I know remind me that I know most, which is to say there are not many of them. This cult of anglers subscribe to a lifestyle of night driving, often through
rain and snow, to either jump in a boat, or wade in rain all day,
They study flow graphs on their phones, glassy eyed, over cheap coffee in late night, rural cafes. Their quarry though, is so remarkable that one angler I spoke with, who had fished from the Olympic Peninsula south to our Lost Coast Rivers last winter, claimed he landed five big chromers swinging, all season. When asked if it was worth it, he replied grinning, "Hell yeah!"
Over all, the fishing in California may be as good, if not better than Oregon and Washington Rivers. Perhaps simply because there is less fishing pressure here. Steelheading techniques came to their own in Northern California during the early part of the 20th century. The tradition is here. There are more river miles of steelhead angling to be found in California than anyone could comb in a lifetime.
To experience a big steelhead peel your reel is one of the experiences of a life time. And though our rivers are quite remote, you can get to any one of them in a day. Worthy of slipping off the couch, donning some rain gear and heading out for an old time adventure. You'll likely have the river pretty much to yourself.
Craig's Corner
by Craig Ballenger, CalTrout Ambassador